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Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Rating Details »
Category: Stadiums & Arenas [Edit]
Neighborhood: East Oakland7000 Coliseum Way
Oakland, CA 94621
(510) 569-2121
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
248 reviews for Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
this place is kinda creepy and i loved it! we went a couple years ago to see my orioles, my 1st true love. (hey, you can't help who you fall in love with!)
from the stories from my husband i was expecting to get shanked.
we get off the bart, mad points for transportation right to the stadium. the coliseum is right in the middle of an industrial wasteland. nowhere to stop for a snack or anything.
no worries, just random.
i wasn't expecting much from the outside. i was pleasantly surprised. it's a beautiful ballpark on the inside.
it was an amazing day and we went cheap and got bleacher seats. i was expecting metal crappy seats. but no. very nice seats. we wandered to see what there was to see. they had all kinds of food and drinks and we got a couple of micro brews. not at a bad price.
as i cheered for my orioles all i got was good natured ribbing from my surrounding A's fans. hey, they were already going to the playoffs and new my boys wouldn't hurt them.
the whole place was a nice surprise, like a hidden gem
Basis of review: A's games
Pro: anything goes
Con: anything goes
I've only been here for A's games.
You can see the yard lines and numbers from the Raiders games :(
Oh well... it's Oakland. The baseball games are cheap and you can pretty much sit anywhere you want (on 2nd level).
Beer is expensive :( :(
Parking is expensive - best to get hammered on the BART.
The line for food wasn't long + the garlic fries were nice & greasy.
This stadium is old. I have been coming here for about 17 years now. I'm not a sports fan at all either. You know how dads of daughter drag them to things like this.
I just looked forward to the food back then. I also got to see Ricky Henderson sitting a few rows over from us watching the game once. What ever that means?
This time around I came here for a company sponsored event. We had 10 suites suited up for our use for our customers and some of our employees.
I had to play host and miss congeniality for my customers that I invited plus all the big wigs were walking around mingling.
The suites had comfy chairs and sofas. Plenty of TVs for viewing. We had the 49er game on plus the A's game on at the same time.
The food spread was OK. The suite attendant was missing in action most of the time. Hot Dogs, Pop Corn, Peanuts, Chips & Salsa, Guacamole. I saw Cheese Platters and Fruit Platters in other suites. Beer, Soda's & Water were all available.
The A's employees really do know how to take care of their customers who sponsor events here. Plus, we sponsor advertising all through the stadium so we are definitely high priority customers. They are amazing hosts to say the least.
All I wanted was to have a good relaxing sunday and hang out with my friends. I am a season ticket holder for The Raiders, But let me clear it up first, my brother is the fan and the fanatic of them that loves going to the games but me, Mr ATM always is mr nice.. So he couldn't go yesterday and I actually went. What is funny is that when I sat at the seat everyone said, " Who are you?? That's Gaspar's Seat!!! You better leave or we'll call security.. I looked at them and just sat down with my Turkey club sandwich and bottle water. Yeah they called security bcz they love my brother, they came and I showed them my ticket. Security ck'd the ticket and I was cool. So all these morons looked puzzled and I said I'M HIS FRICKIN BROTHER!!!! "Oh, you should have said that in the first place " they all said.. bunch of idiots!!!
Anyways, I didn't want a hot dog nor any burgers or nothing, wanted something healthy but the Turkey club sandwich w/ has potato chips, apple cost $10.00.. Ten fricking dollars of some dry ass bread!!! YUCKY!!!!!! Don't ever buy it, it's not even worth it Of course most of you may not be Raider fans but my brother is so that's why I acomodate him with whatever he needs....... SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! Oh 1 more thing, They really don't know how to play football either..
Well, it has seen better days. Basically I'm refering to the horrible teams that play here (I am a Raider fan, so I'm not just bashing them.) The A's games are still kinda fun, but the team isn't very good anymore either. Tickets are pretty good prices for a MLB game. The garlic fries used to be the best thing in the place 3-4 years ago. They have gotten a bit better as of late though. Parking is a ripoff though, so take BART.
I'm not really a big A's fan, but Ive been here a couple of times this past baseball season and a few times when I was a little younger. I only came cause they had $2 Tickets and $1 Hot Dogs on Wednesdays. Only A's can do this. You never see this at a Giants game. You can practically move wherever you want on the 2nd level, since no one is there. Parking is expensive, I suggest taking BART since it stops right there. Its way cheaper than parking at the stadium Stadium is a bit run down, kind of reminds me of Candlestick Park in San Francisco. But nevertheless you can still enjoy a baseball game.
I have only been here for baseball games--at a stadium built for the Raiders [football] in mind--so all I know is that there is a huge foul territory and the seating is a bit far from the playing field...
I am a fan though because any seat in the coliseum is better than watching a game on TV.
With great company and an empty, hungry stomach [food is GREAT when you're hungy], a visit to this coliseum can be one of the greatest experiences!
It ain't AT&T park but what do you expect for Oakland??? I've been here 3 times now and it's starting to grow on me. You can get a decent seat behind home plate for $30 and Oakland boys are cute!!! The nice underage boys behind us gave me a hot dog. I would have bought them a beer but I wouldn't want them to wind up like me some day: a lonely, depraved, tired, alcoholic, out of work cartoon character. Well you get the idea.
Game time again, this time @ the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for the A's Home Game against Cleveland Indians on Fri 9/18/09...and well, it was last Firework's Night for the season too & we hadn't been in about 3yrs *tee-hee*
COLISEUM: BF & I made our way over last night to the A's Game @ the Coliseum which drew a decent crowd of baseball fans, but definitely not a jam packed stadium. Some folks may choose to park in Coliseum parking lot, others may catch BART in, but folks like us park @ the Coliseum BART Station (ahem..FREE) & then walk over the ramp to the stadium. Here's our view from Section 230-231 http://www.yelp.com/bi... The Coliseum is really not a stadium to brag about, but it's part of Oakland & I'm proud to claim it ;-)
TASTES: Now my BF enjoys baseball, whereas I just enjoy stadium food to taste here & there =) Our favorite in the past @ the Coliseum have been their nachos! Stood in line @ Kona Brewing Co http://www.yelp.com/bi... , peeped their menu http://www.yelp.com/bi... , & we got our $6.50 Nacho Grande http://www.yelp.com/bi... w/ ground beef, sour cream, cheese, & jalapenos. Service seemed to be moving slow behind the counter, but friendly & pleasant. Not the same kind of "love" we remember like 3yrs ago in our nachos...cheese was hot, jalapenos were fresh, but chips didn't seem exactly "on crunch" if u will. BF & I polished it off tho. Probably get this again next As Home Game...maybe we'll get quicker service & more "love" in the nachos next time. I was tempted to get a Rootbeer or Orange Crush Float next door for like $5.50, but frugal me said pass...hell I packed us some sodas & Capris to the game anyway.
FIREWORKS: Keyword here is "Crowd Control". 3yrs ago or so, you would typically crowd around the gates to the field by 8th/9th Inning w/ everyone else (60+ peeps), gates would open once game is over & field has been cleared, once you made it to the bottom steps it was a "run a find a spot on the field & claim it"...so not the case anymore! "Crowd Control" ...NOW, they rope off an area in front of the gates to the field to keep folks from blocking the walk-way (pretty much like what movie theaters do opening night/wkend on an expected box office hit), once gates open, you walk down the stairs where u're greeted by yellow jacket Coliseum employees directing traffic to stay inside yellow tape area to find a spot on the field. Maybe someone got hurt in the past 'cuz it was a chaotic situation & staff realized they should find a way to avoid that again...."Crowd Control" was a surprise yet a step well taken (in my opinion). Journey - "Lights" still the song intro for fireworks display ...and as far as I'm concerned, A's Fireworks Night is still awesome http://www.yelp.com/bi...
9TH INNING: Game ends w/ A's 2 & Indians 1. Typical stand & wait 10min outside Coliseum (for those needing to walk towards BART) while the Fire Marshall clears the area where fireworks were launched, then everyone is hip to hip, or shoulder to shoulder, walking back over the ramp. Overall, ok game, ok-blah nachos, & great fireworks...a good Friday night for us.
Keep the A's in Oakland!!!
Alright, so the Giants' stadium is way nicer, but who the hell cares when you've got $2 Wednesdays? Even seats behind home plate only run about $50.
If you're an uppity East Bay native with San Francisco penis envy, or want to spend a fortune on watching overweight athletes scratch themselves for three hours, go across the Bay.
If you have hometown pride, appreciate pedestrian bridge scalpers and $5 baseball caps, find $1 hot dogs delicious, enjoy schizo weather that switches between freezing winds and perfect tanning sunshine, and would rather spend your money on alcohol and ice cream than on your game ticket, the Coliseum is for you! (And me.)
East Bay holla back!
Amazingly, this is the worst venue in two sports... MLB and the NFL. It's actually quite sad that such a wealthy area has the two worst stadiums in football (along with the dump that is Candlestick). The place is a ghost town with the A's, and like the State Penetentary with the Raiders.
There is too much foul territory in baseball and it limits a closer seat to the action. The upper deck is tarped off. Sad, really. Then there's Mt. Davis - the monstrocity of an eyesore that eliminated the nice views of the hills and the ice plants above the bleachers.
Raider games are a pit-bull owners delight. EVERYONE is a tough guy at Raider games. Even the gals are tough guys. Fans of visiting teams get their asses kicked for going, and even classy Raider fans prefer watching from the couch at home - instead of next to some stinky loser. Hence, never a sell-out - and never on my TV set (thankfully).
Not to mention, they are overstaffed for meaningless weekday games against the Royals and comically understaffed when the Yankees visit on a weekend. This place is terrible for our teams. It's like going out trying to get laid with herpes on your face.
As a die-hard Raiders fan, I am a huge fan of this stadium.
I have outstanding seats (Sec 116) 45 yard line, under cover with full view of the scoreboard and tv.
It can be up-dated with a newer flat screen tv's and additional trendy restauarants and a cool Raiders Store, but being its the Raiders home, the old look and feel of the stadium fits the Silver and Black like a glove!
This is the very Coliseum that made headlines this week, after OPD tased a guy, launching him out of his seat. Subsequently, this became a Viral Video on YouTube.
Being an East Bay Native, this is the mecca for Sports in the Area. I have more memories than I can count that span 20+ years.
Although, not as glamorous as newer parks, it always boasts a certain charm. Maybe, it's due to the History that has taken place with the A's and Raiders calling it home. Perhaps, it's the Melting Pot of people who are all equally enthusiastic about their teams, even with the recent seasons for both being losing ones.
It's definitely a different set up than in years past. In the mid-Ninties an unsightly Mt. Davis was added that obstructed a view of the Oakland Hills. However, Bleachers were updated and much more desirable than the ones preceding. If anyone should want a glimpse of the old park, just watch "Angels in the Outfield" and you will remember it's former setup .
I will never turn my back on this venue. It's full of good time, great friends and fantastic shows. Plus, it's one of the most logistically convenient sports venues in the area.
Diamond Level is where I sit to watch A's games - 'nuff said.
::laughing:: Ok, fine, I will elaborate. Diamond level is fabulous. You have your own parking lot, you have your own entrance that you share with the visiting team when you are in the tunnel for part of the walk to your seats behind first base, you have use of the single person restroom, on giveaway days whatever the heck it is they are giving away in limited quantities is waiting for each seat holder in this area regardless of the time you show up, and if that wasn't enough - EVERY SINGLE PERSON you encounter within that range of your seating is polite and friendly as can be and we all know how much I value outstanding customer service.
One of the many perks of season tickets here is the unlimited food and beverages (you get 2 alcoholic beverages per person as well if you drink) and it is all brought to you by your seating area attendant who is more than happy to check in as often or as little as you would like. Hey - don't forget to generously tip your attendant after every game!
Why am I just now disclosing the secret of where I sit? I do not want to bump into anyone I know there when I like to focus on the game (yes, I like to sit in silence for a good 90% of the game - NO TALKING DURING A PITCH DAMNIT!) Then I realized tonight that there is so much security in that area and diamond level attendants because the players walk through that area to get to the dugout, pose for photos and sign memorabilia that I can wear my hat and enjoy a game in silence. (this is the only time I am seriously anti-social)
I love that unlike that fancy schmancy stadium of today's visiting team from across the bridge with fans who have the nerve to be on tv during a game using cell phones and computers - Diamond Level patrons here are kindly reminded prior to seating to refrain from cell phone usage while seated but instead go into the corridor. Hey, you are sitting in seats that are right behind home plate - do you really want to look like a dork on the phone or even worse, on a computer while on TV? I also have no interest in listening to someone try to shout over the crowd to have a lame conversation when I want to focus on the game.
Tonight my younger one said the magic words I waited in vain to hear my older one say (and it never came to fruition) at the bottom of the 2nd inning: "Mom, I love baseball!" It finally clicked in her head watching pitch by pitch not inning by inning. She also gave me lotsa huggies and kisses for sharing a game with her - just the two of us, watching the A's beat the living crap out of the Giants.
Roman - thank you for being an outstanding attendant today. My stomach still hurts from the abundance of ballpark food you kept bringing out to my daughter and I.
Diamond Level Season tickets come with even more perks that I did not list. I will not lie to you. they are not cheap. if you have the money, the passion for baseball, and the love for first class service . . .check it out. I absolutely love it!
Drawbacks: no foul ball catching here because of the net, but when I had field level tix - those foul balls were in great abundance. . . if you are not scared to palm a nasty stray line drive ::laughing:: Also, not as much crowd participation here so if you are a HUGE fan of the clap routines or the shout sets. . . or even worse, if you think you will DIE unless you do the wave while hitting a beach ball, then this area is not for you!
Thank you Oakland Athletics Organization for having a first class option that is so well run, you earned those 5 stars on Opening Day and tonight affirmed it!
GO A's!! I LOOOOOVE BASEBALL!!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/10/2009
IGNORE the reviews from whiners who bitch and moan about the ballpark because WTF - do you not have… Read more »
I have been here quite a few times, I actually realized this Tuesday June 23rd while was at the Giant's v A's Game (GO GIANTS) that I had never yelped them.
Well gee golly miss molly here I am now.
So everytime I have been here I always end up entering through an entrance that makes me have to walk around this stadium almost more than half way. The parking is never great, never ever ever! But during football season when you come out early and tailgate it aint that bad.
Football season is actually my favorite time to come out because you've got so many more tailgaters than you do during Baseball season. Although last year when I had my own tailgate with a few friends we had a great time.
I hope they plan to maybe remodel this place soon or do something, I swear its looked the same since the day we drove past it when we first moved out here to the Bay.
All in all though it aint half bad to come here and enjoy a game, but do keep in mind it is a sports event so prices may not always be to your liking.
Plain and simple, Al Davis ruined this place. It was 100 times better when they had the old bleacher seats.
2.75
The fact that they have an all you can eat section here is awesome! Too bad they don't have it very often and the food isn't all that good. Having said that...the stadium itself is pretty old and unscenic. Where are the scoreboards? Why do I feel like I'm a mile away from the game?? I know the focus is to watch the game, but there is nothing that creates any intrigue. When they added the centerfield for more Raiders game seatings is when it went downhill in my opinion...1 star for being able to BART here and another star for lots of parking and fact that its right off the fwy.
As far as baseball stadiums go, this one is a little below average. I like going to it because of the proximity of the BART station and because, even though I'm a Cubs fan, if I was a fan of a bay area team it would be the A's. Also, tickets are super cheap ($2 tickets and $1 hotdogs on Wednesdays? Sold!) and it's not super crowded like AT&T park. There isn't any real stand-out food, though and it's just an old, crappy, unfriendly place to watch a game.
A below average ballpark, overall.
*3.5 Stars*
Last summer, while in Berkley, I got a chance to check out the Oakland Coliseum. We picked up a pair of tickets off ebay in the Plaza Infield (behind home plate), right next to the Westside club. The ticket came with $10 food vouchers. We ended up being able to sit in the club by the window -- watch the game, eat some nachos, have a waiter...not too shabby.
Overall the stadium isn't exactly "top notch," but its not that bad. What really sucks is the huge added seating area in center field for football. I'm sure before that, there was a better view (not sure of what though).
They also offer $1 hotdogs and had pretty good beer too. It was a fun time, but not a stadium I would go to unless I was in the area.
This place saw 4 World Series championship seasons, two Super Bowl championship seasons, and countless other memories that are good and bad.
The place isn't new and Mount Davis made the place horrible for baseball. The food is alright, as the workers we met were nice to us, although I cannot say the same for a few instances of rudeness by ignorant folks. The luxury suites in Mount Davis ensure that during baseball season, it's almost impossible to watch baseball until a homerun ball comes by, though the seats are nice for football.
Although it is more affordable than AT&T Park and easier to get to, the area isn't the greatest, as nothing is really within walking distance of the stadium compared to SOMA's many restaurants and shops in San Francisco.
The A's need a new stadium while the Raiders simply need to win.
In my 3 games here during the Rockies vs Athletics series over the weekend, I've come to appreciate watching a game here. Sure it's a dinosaur of a ballpark and there isn't the ambiance or romance of today's stadiums. But when it comes down to it, there isn't a bad seat in the place to watch a baseball game. The player field looks a lot larger on television and you get the impression of being seated far away from the action of the game, definitely not true.
Concessions are plentiful, but in my opinion lack some variety. Having never been here before, the garlic fries are a signature staple here and for me were a must-try. Let's say that I'm now addicted to garlic fries, plus it helps keep the vampires away.
The main souvenir store is a little small, but there are also a number of large novelty stands throughout the concourse. Some of the amenities could use some serious upgrading, like the restrooms, but that won't happen before the new stadium is built, whenever that may be.
Forget about the outside of the stadium on your way in, once you're inside if you're a baseball fan, what happens on the field is all that matters.
To start, let me mention my bias. I am a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan. Everyplace I visit has to live up to Fenway Park standards. Most don't.
Ok, that said, here is the review.
I've been to the Coliseum at least 5 times now. I must be good for the A's as they have won 4 of those 5 games. ;)
My most recent visit, Sunday, Aug 2nd, 2009.
I hadn't been to the park since 2006 and to my surprise, they had not raised the club seat prices, where I like to sit.
Seats are VERY comfy! Sightlines are very good from Sect 214. Vendor service was also very much available and the vendors all seemed to have a good attitude about their jobs.
Since the stadium is really built for the Raiders, and NFL football, it's a bit odd shaped. And the upper deck is closed off during the baseball season, as it appears they don't have the need for those seats. Nicely covered up with retired numbers/names, etc.
Services available? In the club seats, you can get a $10 voucher per ticket for food, which makes the $40 club seat price, $30 (before fees).
To my surprise, the food in the Club area was very good. We had the Nachos and each had a hot dog and drink. Total cost with vouchers...$12. Added an $8 tip for the excellent service provided by the server.
The game? Well....the A's are in a rebuilding mode....and they showed it on the field and lost 7-2.
Why the 3 stars? Because the stadium hasn't had any evidence of the teams playing there wanting to upgrade the place. The sound system is BAD and the video boards, while nice there are 2, are just old and not flashy like some of the newer boards. It seems the owners are happy where things are. Parking is $17. A bit high since they have their own lot and the number of fans who go.
But it's a really good place to see a game, get an autograph and "chat" with players, who are right up under the fans on the sidelines.
I have been to 18 MLB working parks (24 MLB parks overall). This place ranks 11th on my list.
I've been to a few A's games here, I guess you can say I'm a pseudo A's fan. Grew up in Chicago area but am tight with Bay Area family members and always root for A's as AL team.
Anyway, I just can't get into this stadium. It's big, it's cold, it's kind of depressing. Maybe if Al Davis hadn't blocked off the view of the bay by building the obstruction in center it wouldn't be so bad. But he did, and it is.
I will say this though, even though they don't always pack the house; A's fans are great. I've been to a few of the more important games here and they were more fun than lots of the games I've been to at Wrigley. I wish the A's were better right now so they can get that atmosphere back.
Came here last night for my first baseball game! (I need to get out more) Watched the A's vs Yankees and I must say... this was probably the cleanest looking stadium's I've been in. The bathrooms were semi clean, my seats didn't stick to my ass and I had cool ass seats! So much fun.
The first stadium on my list of places to tear down, the Coliseum is not much of a stadium. The biggest plus about this place is that the seats are cheap and plentiful. Along with that, it is close to the BART station. Not much positive to say after that.
The fans are terrible. The field is usually trashed. The concessions have huge lines that don't take plastic. The stadium gets hot during day games and is really in a seedy area. I can't believe my car didn't get towed or stolen when I left it parked under the BART station. This place can't be gone soon enough.
I just spent the last three days commuting to the Coliseum to go and support and the Red Sox while they were out here playing the A's...and I must say I absolutely loved every minute...
Sure lines suck.
Sure cash only sucks.
Okay, you want to complain that the park is outdated? Well go back to AT&T Park. The A's stadium has a lot of history in it's crazy seating arrangement, and has a lot of support from the local area for such a long time as well.
The coliseum is where it's at! The fans are real, the food is overpriced, cheap seats are EVERYWHERE.
I got great cheap bleachers seat at game 1 for $13 each.
Next night, I got plaza infield, ten rows back from home plate for $40 each.
And for the day game, we paid $30 for third baseline tickets.
I cannot complain about that. These three days have been absolutely memorable for me..seeing Youk's chops up close...seeing them lose embarrassingly...going with my young sister...eating candied bacon...and seeing Wakefield pitch a perfect/almost no hitter game... These are reasons why I love the Coliseum!!!
So go look at the prices for the AT&T Park. Go and complain then. And a get an organic hot dog while you're there. I'm going back to Oakland :)
For football: You don't wanna sit on the east side because the sun will be in your eyes during games. You don't want to sit within 20 rows of the field because everyone stands during the game (unless you wanna stand). You also need to get there by 11:30 AM to park in the lot during a sold-out game. Otherwise, you'll be parking in the business neighborhood on the west side or across the freeway. Security has gotten a lot better over the years. Fans are better behaved now.
For baseball: well, there's plenty of seats. Lots of foul territory. They'll open up the seats on the third deck behind home plate only if there's a big crowd. I sat on Mt. Davis for a World Series game years ago and I couldn't see the outfield fence. This will only be a concern the next time the A's are in the World Series as they have closed Mt. Davis (except for the lower seats which are the "bleachers").
The Coliseum has a couple of nice features that a lot of stadiums don't have. One is there are plenty of seats for A's games. And reasonably priced too, for a MLB game. Second, it's sure easy to get in and out of. You can take BART, but if the game's sold out, count on a real delay getting on the pedestrian bridge to the BART platform because they can't off-load passengers on to trains faster than the number of fans pouring on to the platform after a sold out game.
But even during a sell out, getting out of the parking lot is comparatively easy since the stadium is right next to the freeway. By comparison, at Candlestick you can't move for an hour in the lot after a Niner game.
The only real negative is that some of the seats are a bit far from the field due to the dual-use configuration of the stadium, and that the interiors of the first and second decks are crowded and dark concrete passage ways.
I happen to think this is a pretty good location for a stadium.
I'm definitely not an Oakland A's or Oakland Raider's fan. Therefore I seldomly attend any sporting events at the McAfee, Network Associate, Al Davis's house or whatever they call this outdoor venue these days.
The ceremony for the four fallen officers at the Oracle Arena was filled to capacity at the Oracle Arena. So many of the admirers. who couldn't get in, were able to get in and also watch the ceremony on the Jumbo-tron at the outdoor venue. The huge Jumbo-tron is used to display the Oakland A's profile and Raider's profile including seeing the creepy Al Davis and his ritual speech intermittently during the Raider's game. That is why, I'm not a Raider fan and refuse to attend any Raider's game, despite getting numerous invitations from colleagues and friends.
Those who attended were many more officers from various parts of the nations and the rest of the public to somewhat filled the outdoor venue, which holds nearly 70,000 people. My friend and I and other people were watching speeches from various dignitaries, colleagues,and family-members of the four officers on the Jumbo-tron. And the ceremony, starts with a moment of silence and ends with a 21-gun salute with the loud military cannon.
Various officers from other agencies, who travel thousands of miles, were attend a somber ceremony fear that may be them one day. Hopefully, it won't ever happen.
My friend and I enjoyed a lengthy conversation with various police officers including one from Baltimore Police, a deputy from Morristown County in West Virginia, and a married couple from the Santa Fe (New Mexico) Polce Department. An impressive, but somber gathering it was for the city of Oakland.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/29/2006
Matt got a last-minute phonecall from his colleague, who is season-ticket holder for the "LOWLY"… Read more »
Ah, one of those old multi-purpose concrete behemoths that used to be everywhere in baseball. These days, they're all being torn down and replaced by new parks on the Camden Yards model but the A's are still keeping it O.G.
Maybe its just the terrifying flashbacks to some poorly played Phils games at the Vet but I don't miss this type of stadium in the least. They, Oakland included, fail to really accommodate the best views of a baseball game or offer up large screens for replay or little things like a clearly visible out-of-town scoreboard. And maybe its because the only time I've visited here, it was to see a high-energy A's-Diamondbacks game. (You're getting the sarcasm there, right?)
As for concessions, being an older park, the options are pretty limited. I had an okay pulled pork sandwich--too much fat, too tough, not enough barbecue sauce. My friend got a tri-tip sandwich and his assessment was pretty much the same.
As for the A's, I've always been fond of them due to their old Philadelphia roots, but it doesn't look they have much hope for the 2009 season or the near future. They just don't find quality young arms and high-OBP players the way they used to.
I really do not know a lot about baseball stadiums since I've only been to the SBC park but I had a good time last Saturday at the Coliseum. The Oakland Coliseum is definitely not as rejuvenated as SBC park but I can appreciate its historical value.
Came here to see the A's play against the Giants. Tailgating here is pretty awesome, the parking lot is close to the stadium so you do not have to walk for miles after you and your crew are done partying it up. Our tickets were really cheap and we got pretty decent seats in the lower level. The concession offerings were enticing, I totally would of purchased a wiener if I hadn't consume the best bbq turkey burger with grilled onions and jalapenos prior. The fans are also really awesome here, the Giants fans were louder than the A's fans....awesome.
The only bad thing which is expected is the direct sunlight...bring sunblock or plan accordingly to sit in the rows a little bit higher to avoid sunburn!
Just a great day to spend a Saturday really... I also got a kick out of a giants fan, an older lady screaming at this As fan "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Probably one of my least favorite places to go watch a game. But that said however, I will always come see a game here if I get the chance!
I'll start with parking. It can get expensive, so we found this little dirt strip across the off-ramp that is free. The regulars seem to know about this place. You have to walk a little, but there are always cops directing traffic so it doesn't get too crazy. And bonus points because you're not stuck in the lines of cars trying to get out of the main parking lots. And that sucks when basketball is being played right next door and the games end at the same time.
We have sat in all different sections and I have to say that the upper deck above home plate is my favorite. My fiance caught Pedrioa's foul ball there when the Sox were in town and it made his week.
The good/bad thing about the coliseum is that it's never filled to capacity. Good because I don't like huge crowds, but then bad because you lose some of the team spirit and atmopshere.
Food/drinks are expensive but that's expected. Pretty standard baseball food. When it's cold at night you have to hunt down the hot chocolate guy, but other than that it's all good.
Last but not least, the flag people are fun to watch as they try to coordinate from both sides and then to the music.
Two words for you: DIAMOND LEVEL.
Yeah, if you're going to go to sports games, go in style.
It starts with VIP parking and a back entrance where you are greeted at the door and from there a new person approaches you about every 50 feet. They are all very welcoming, lead you downstairs, as you pass players and coaches, and to your seats. You have to stay on the left-hand side as there is a lot of "team traffic." You are given two free drink tickets and seated. For us, front row right behind home plate. It's called awesome.
The food is all you can eat, included!!! You are given peanuts and a menu. We started with the nachos and the keilbasa sausage. Nachos are the typical ballpark fare, fake cheese and mucho jalapenos. I was dissapointed with the keilbasa, had no taste, but did have sauteed peppers and onions, a nice addition. We then got the meatball sandwich with melted(well should have been) provolone cheese and overflowing with sauce. Yum. The Maine lobster salad sandwich was served on a toasted and buttered bread roll and was pretty delicious, although small. I took a little break and ordered some Dibbs, although I had to stop eating them after I saw that they contained 89% of your saturated fat content. Ewww. The man got a chocolate malt. After that I ordered the sliders, which came two with some chips. Not bad, basic with pickles. Ah, ha. It's amazing how much I put back last night.
To drink I started with a Curveball and then moved onto the Chardonnay becuase it came in a big glass and seemed to give them most bang for your buck(ahem, drink ticket). The beers on the other hand were only 3/4 full which was a bummer. I know it's lame to drink wine at a ball game, but you got to do what you got to do. I started feeling like a loser and went back to beer, ordered a Sierra. Then I decided to finish the night with one last wine.
Our seats were so close it was like a whole different ball game, no pun intended. From our perspective the whole thing really looked like a dream. You could talk shit to the players and see how hot they really are sitting that close up! We were treated well, and left stuffed and a little buzzed, which kept me happy even though the A's lost.
Obviously not always plausible, but Diamond Level is worth it!
Yesterday was my first Oakland Coliseum experience and I was impressed!
First off, I'm not a sports stadium expert, but this one is perfect.
1) Very clean (not Disney clean, but definitely California clean)
2) Crowd control was not a problem. I went during a game that looked like it was nearly sold out and I never was in danger of getting trampled.
3) They have GOOD hot dogs (and bad ones), but they have good GOOD ones!
4) 40s of Corona was a pleasant surprise. The $12 cost was not, but they have 40s! FUCK YEAH!
5) Pretzels.... yeah, the awesome big ones.
6) salted PEANUTS! (nom, nom, nom...)
7) I didn't get Cracker Jack, but I didn't think to look till the 7th inning stretch.
This place is ridiculously convenient to get to via BART. I highly suggest it. Get sports-fan-sloshed (really just TIPSY, I swear), then hop on Bart alla way home!
i've been to the coliseum for A's games and a raider game... this stadium has seen better days... it's really old and outdated... renovations would be a waste of money... the raiders need to get smart and join forces with the 49ers to come up with finances to build a new stadium which both organizations can share (i.e. ny jets & ny giants or lakers & clippers)... the only plus is it is convenient taking bart to the games though... h-100...
The Coliseum used to be a neat place to watch a game. Kind of a sterile environment, yes, but serviceable and the colossal dogs can't be beat. Back years ago, I remember a group of us going here, having a good time, and one of my friends "obtaining" six or so California Coolers from an abandoned stand before we hit the BART train for the trip home. Obviously, this was a chance thing, but the point is, the Coliseum used to be a fun place to watch a game.
That all changed when the new owner (Lew Wolff?) bought the team. Suddenly, you couldn't move down to empty sections. Seriously, my buddy and I were in the lower reserved section, and there was a *totally* empty lower box section in front of us. Of course we moved down, only to be hassled by an usher. If the seats aren't being used, what's the big fuss? They also closed the upper deck, where you could sit in the sun on a weekday by yourself and ponder the game, life, and whatnot. The security guards have a definite mindset, and it isn't customer service.
I used to enjoy going to A's games, but for the last 3-4 years, whenever the new owner took over, he's made this place a stalag. More than one of my friends says the owner's doing this to decrease attendance and thus create more excuses for moving the team. Even if the Phillies come back, I'll be hard pressed to go.
A sunny Saturday afternoon in July at a packed Wrigley or Fenway = Baseball Heaven.
A cold, windswept April night at the huge, cavernous, half-empty Oakland Coliseum = Baseball Hell.
I've been going to the Coliseum for decades, and except for Mt. Davis being built out in center field, it has hardly changed. I mean, going here is like stepping through a time warp.
That's not a good thing.
I get why people feel nostalgic for the place - memories about summer days watching baseball, etc. And, truthfully, there's something about the old-school feel of the Coliseum that I like too.
But mostly, I'm bothered by the cramped seats, poor sight-lines, and general fan-unfriendliness.
Both teams playing there suck really bad these days, which doesn't help.
I have to be honest, this place sucks to most people. But, I happen to find its suckiness to be charming and unique. If you don't like it, go have some wine and cheese across the bay.
Came here to see the Red Sox last year. Our concession stand service experiences ranged from atrocious to openly hostile.
